Air Pollution

Environmental Health Chapter 12

Biogenic & Geogenic vs. Anthropogenic

Tropospheric (Ground-Level) Ozone

CO + 2O2 + hν → CO2 + O3

Secondary Pollutant causing…

Respiratory Irritation (coughing and wheezing) Decreased Lung Function Aggravation of Asthma Increased Susceptibility to Respiratory Infection Inflammation and Damage of Lung Lining

Air and air pollution in systems terms

What does the system look like?

What part(s) of the system might Spare the Air Day affect? How?

Air Pollutants and Human Health

Particulate Matter

Aerodynamic Diameter

O3 SO2 NOx VOCs CO Pb Hg

Where do they come from?

What are the human health effects?

What do the systems look like?

Hg

40% from coal-fired power plants

Exposure via inhalation, skin contact or ingestion

Bioaccumulation in fish as methylmercury

Health Impacts Elemental Mercury: Kidney Methylmercury: Nervous and Cardiovascular system Chronic and acute poisoning

How do we study the health effects of air pollutants?

Epidemiological Studies

Epidemiology

...the study... of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

...investigate the relationship between air pollutant concentrations and health outcomes under real-world conditions of exposure...

Volunteer Studies

Animal Studies

Indoor Air Pollution